Manchester will also believe that their attack, not the defence, is what needs rejigging as rumours about continue to link the Red Devils with the imminent arrival of Arsenal'sAlexis Sanchez. Ashley Young floated a good ball over the top for Paul Pogba, but the midfielder could only turn it over the bar.

"You never know", said defender Phil Jones, when asked if Manchester United could make up the gap.

Anthony Martial bagged the victor nine minutes after the interval with a very cool finish after Romelu Lukaku assisted him with a quite wonderful pass. Martial came up with the only outstanding moment of the game after picking up Lukaku's pass to fire in off the underside of the crossbar after 54 minutes.

"I always got the impression when I was younger that even the big clubs with the spending power had an eye on the business side of things".

Sanchez is expected to sign a deal worth £500,000 a week at Old Trafford, more than the wage bill of the Burnley squad who will look to end their six-match winless run against Jose Mourinho's men at Turf Moor.

Burnley immediately sought an equaliser, Gudmundsson clipping the woodwork with a free-kick from the edge of the box before referee Mike Dean waved away appeals for a handball by Chris Smalling in the United area.

When Gudmundsson did slip the ball across the face of goal, Tarkowski was unable to connect.